IF ANYONE IS well positioned to predict the impact Joe Schmidt is going to have for Ireland over the coming season, it’s Conor O’Shea.
The Harlequins Director of Rugby and RTÉ analyst is a man who plans ahead, understands the workings of professional rugby squads and has enjoyed successes of his own with an attacking philosophy.
O’Shea told TheScore.ie that the Irish set-up needed a shake-up this season and he feels that Schmidt is the perfect man to provide it.
“He’ll bring freshness. A change is as good as a rest. I think he’s just so affable and knowledgeable when you talk to him. He’s very friendly with the conversations you have, and although he’s an honest man, he’ll never talk in any confrontational way, just a matter-of-fact way.
“You can’t argue with a lot of what he says. Even his post-match analysis is spot on straight after the games. I don’t think there’ll be anything less than energy and work ethic and thirst to get better, that’s what Joe brings. That will rub off on players.”
Looking back on Ireland’s victory over Samoa, O’Shea points out that it was Schmidt himself who summed up the defensive deficiencies that need to be shored up ahead of the clash with Australia on Saturday.
Joe said it straight after the game, didn’t he? If we allow them [Australia] to have as much ball and get as many line-breaks as Samoa did, they will score. Yes, we held Samoa tryless and there was a great attitude when the line got broken to get back and defend. That’s brilliant, but this is a different level we’re playing at.
“Australia scored 50 points last week. That test match a couple of weeks ago against the All Blacks [when the Wallabies lost 41-33] was just sensational to watch. So that’s the main thing from an Irish point of view, to make sure defensively that they get those things right, that their defensive line is better, that they don’t give away as many opportunities this weekend as against Samoa.”
There is a real sense that this Australian team is beatable, that Ireland should approach this game with confidence. Ewen McKenzie’s side have struggled for consistency and have looked lacking in mental strength at times over the last year or so.
While he warns against complacency, O’Shea is confident about Ireland’s chances.
“This is an Australian team that’s been together a long time. On the flip side, this is an Australian side that – regardless of what they say – cannot be as confident or mentally strong as other Australian sides have been. Just look at their record this year.
“Ireland in naming their team will be much stronger. Cian Healy, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll has another game under his belt, Jonny Sexton back into the side, Sean O’Brien from the start.
“There’s a really good, strong spine and core to this Irish time. There’s the natural energy that a new coach brings and if the scores are tight, Ireland believe they can win. I have no doubt about that. Do Australia, deep down, have that belief?”
Australia have a wide array of attacking talent in their back-line, but it is up front where the worries have persisted for McKenzie. His pack looks to be lacking in ball carriers, while the scrum got a battering from England in the 20-13 defeat two weekends ago.
While O’Shea rejects the notion that the current Wallabies pack is lacking a tough edge, he admits that Ireland can come out on top of the set piece battle.
“No, it’s not fair that they’re soft. You couldn’t accuse that Australian pack of being soft. The likes of Stephen Moore, Ben Mowen, they’re not soft, they’re good rugby players. Take your pick, if it’s Benn Robinson or Ben Alexander, these guys are good rugby players.
But, where will Ireland be able to squeeze them? It’ll be at the scrum. Australia survive in the scrum but they can’t dominate it. Jack McGrath, what a great debut he had. Cian Healy, the size of prop who are now under the new scrummaging laws, they suit Cian Healy.
“It’s definitely the area where they are weaker, it’s the area the Lions got them in, the area that England exposed. That must be a real affront to the Australian pack and they’ll come out really fired up to prove people wrong, but it’s the soft underbelly of this Australian team.”
If Ireland can ruthlessly expose that weak point, O’Shea is confident for their chances of success. The 42-year-old is also of the belief that Schmidt can bring about vast improvement in Ireland’s performances long-term.
“We’ve got the usual soundbites saying everyone holds him in high regard. That’s what players will do, but I think they genuinely do. If you enjoy your environment and you enjoy what you’re about, you enjoy how you’re trying to play; well half the battle is enjoying playing.
“That’s what you want to see, an enthusiastic and ambitious Irish team. That will be good enough for me.”
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